Sarah Ferguson Reveals How She Really Felt About Not Being Invited To Kate And William's Wedding

The world watched in excitement and awe when Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in 2011. After all, it's not every day that you get to witness a royal wedding. As a result, we dissected everything from the bride's gorgeous gown (via Brides) to the star-studded guest list (via Harper's Bazaar). Speaking of the guest list, one person was notably absent on the big day: Fergie. No, we're not talking about the singer from the Black Eyed Peas, but Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York.

Ferguson (who was married to Prince Andrew) is Prince William's aunt. As such, you'd think she would have been guaranteed an invite. However, that was not the case. In the months leading up to the royal wedding, publications like CNN speculated on why she was overlooked on the guest list. There was no official reason given, though. At the time, Ferguson described the situation as "difficult" in an interview with Oprah Winfrey (via ABC News).

That was likely since her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and her ex-husband were in attendance. "I wanted to be there with my girls," she reflected. "To be getting them dressed and to go as a family." Although she was saddened by the decision, it doesn't appear that she harbors any ill will years later. 

The Duchess of York opened up about the snub in a recent interview with Town & Country. Her feelings may have been hurt by the decision, but she seems understanding. "I didn't think I was probably worthy to go to their wedding," she said. Instead of staying in town for the big day, she found healing in an entirely different country. "I took myself to Thailand, actually, to be far away from it so that I could try and heal," Ferguson revealed. Although she missed Prince William's nuptials, she was in attendance for Prince Harry's 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle. "It was very kind of them, and I can't thank them enough for doing that because it was nerve-wracking," she said on Good Morning Britain at the time (via Page Six). 

Ferguson, who was often compared to friend and former sister-in-law Princess Diana, is rumored to have an at-times strained relationship with the royal family, including its matriarch Queen Elizabeth. However, she remains close with them because of her relationship with her daughters. In 2018, the Duchess of York made additional headlines as her daughter Princess Eugenie also wed, and she was allegedly welcomed back into the "Royal Fold" (via Town & Country).